Apparatus for irradiation



R. M. FRAPS APPARATUS FOR IRRADIATION Sept. 24, 1935.

Filed Sept. 16, 1932 ZE/a We?? 07 Maz/.S027 fn@ Planas 24, '193s'- "rArENr oFFicE 2,015,264 e e e 4lurrsrtn'r'nsf. .Foa -mltsnm'rIoNl Y' Richard-Mason Frans, Chicago, lll. Application september- 16, 1932, serial Nasse/,409

' i.ciaim. wiss-2) invention relates tov an apparats for and `a method of treating materials by subjectingV themto radiation. One object is the provision of means for passing materials through afield oi' radiation. Another object is the provision of means for subjecting materials to solar radiation.

lOther objects will appear from time to time in 15 devices being applicable for the practice of my method.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specification and. drawing.l

l Referring to the'drawing, and particularly to Figure l, I may employ an endless belt or conveyor generally indicated as A. This belt passes around 'rollers or pulleys A1 A. In the form of Figure l the roller A1 is positioned within a housing or container'A3 and the roller A1 Within a corresponding'container A4.

treated, which may be in liquid form, is indicated v as at' Ali and A. A" are any suitable guiding rolls or means, forV example idlers, for the belt A.

-It will be realized that any suitable means may be employed for actuating the belt, for example by rotating one or both of the rollers A1 A. Since means for rotating rollers are well known and do not o! themselves form part of the present invention, such actuating or rotating means are not herein indicated in detail. However, As diagrammatically indicates -any suitable g motor means, such as a pulley, adapted to rotate the l shaft A of the roller A1.

Referring to Figure 2 the guide rollers'or idlers .40 A" are dispensed with and the belt A and the rollers A1 and Al are positioned within a single container B, the fluid within the container being indicated as at B1.'

Referring to Figure 3 -the disposition vof belt .45 and rollers is 'the same as in Figure 2 and a single container C is employed which may include a deepened'v portion C1. C2 indicates a delivery member, for example a spout, whereby material may be delivered to the upper stretch of the belt 5e A. :The material so delivered may be discharged from `the opposite end of the belt into the deep portion ont the container.

It will be realized that whereas I have described andl shown practical and operative devices andv a5 means iorgcarrying out my method, that I wishA 'I'he material to be 4 nevertheless to have my description and drawing taken as in a broad sense illustrative and e diagrammatic, rather than as limiting me to my precise showing.

The use and operation o! my invention are as 5 follows: My invention consists in au improved apparatus for and method of subjecting materials capable of activation to activation by radiation.. A'practical use or application of my apparatus 10 A and method is in the activation of materials, for

example ergosterol, by subjection to solar ultra--v violet radiation, t'o impart to them anti-rachitic characteristics. In order to compensate for the relative weakness or dilluseness of unconcen- 15 f. trated solar radiation, I provide means for passlng the material to be activated in a thin layer or stream through a relatively large iield of radiation. Considering for example the figures herein shown a relatively long belt may beemployed 20 whereby the material picked up by or fed to the belt may travel for a considerable distance, say several feet or more, through an area subjected to solar radiation. The material to be activated may be handled 'as a liquid, the ergosterol for 25 example, being employed in any suitable solvent or iluld carrying medium. In the form of Figure l the unactivated material is shown as at A5. vAs the belt moves it picks up a lm or thin layer of the iiuid and carries it, any desired 30 speed, through the field of radiation. The iluid may be deposited by the belt in the container A, its tendency to be carried by the belt to the upper container A3 being minimized by any vsuitable means, for example the lower roller A7, 35 which serves to strip the thin film of material upon the belt. A belt of any suitable material may be employed, preferably with a smooth surface to which the substancewill adhere in a relatively thin film or layer of generally uniform 40 thickness. v Y

Referring to the form oi Figure 2, only a single container is employed, the container B, and a substantial body of material may be maintained in the container. Movement of the belt A results in the picking up of a thin nlm or layer of the material to be activated, which is carried at anyl suitable speed through the iield of radiation and returned again to the general body of material B1. As the belt and the rollers incidentally agitate the material in the container, the activating effect upon the entire bulk of the mass is substantially uniform.

Referring to Figure 3, i1' it is desired to activate dry material, for example material in powdered or granular or finely divided form, such dry material may be fedfrom the spout C2 and conveyed by the belt for discharge into the deep portion Cl of the container C. l

" It will be realized that the length of the belt A and its speed or rotation may be governed to suit the desired degree of activation, the sensitiveness of the material treated to activation and the intensity of the radiation. Longer belts may be desirable for some materials than for others,

"and a more rapid travel. Also the speed of movement of the belt and the total time ot actuation may be varied, depending for example upon the total mass of the material being treated.

paratively extensive area ot said belt in a plane substantially perpendicular to the direction of incident solar rays; and one container being sui'' ficiently independent of the other to permit adjusting it for maintaining the perpendicular relation ot said belt to the suns rays throughout aperiod of exposure thereto.

RICHARD MASON FRAPS. 

